Greetings precious people, I hope all is well with you. In todayís article I would like for us to begin to look at who Jesus is. Everyone has an opinion including all religions of the world as to who this Jesus is. It should be no surprise that all religions acknowledge His existence and even give Him a prominent place in their belief system. Islam, the religion of Muslims, recognize Jesus as being a prophet; Hinduism, the religion of Hindus, recognize Jesus as a holy man; Mormonism recognize Jesus as Satanís brother who had become a god after his time here on earth; the Watch Tower Society also known as Jehovah Witnesses recognize Jesus as being "a" god. None can deny His existence, but what they all do, bar none, is make Jesus less that what the Bible, Godís Word makes Him out to be. They all deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

Those that are not affiliated with any particular religion also recognize Jesus Christ. They say He was a "good" man, a philosopher, a teacher, a moral man, etc. even atheists recognize Jesus. Many people use the name of Jesus to express anger, surprise, or shock. Some use His name to curse another or situation. We will be looking at what the

Bible has to say about whom this Jesus is.

Many times you may hear the term Jesus Christ the Lord used in reference to Jesus. Many think this is His name, as if Jesus was His first name, Christ was His middle, and Lord was His last. This is not the case. Jesus is His name, in Matthew 1:20-21, we read of the account of when Joseph found out about the pregnancy of his fiancée Mary. "But while he (Joseph) thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

Christ is not Jesusí middle name. The word Christ that comes form the Greek words "Christos" which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah, which means "anointed one". Christ is what Jesus is; He is the anointed one of God, Savior of the world. This truth was first revealed to Jesusí disciples in Matthew 16:13-18 we read, "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Christ is what Jesus is, He is the Messiah.

The term Lord identifies who Jesus is. Jesus is the Lord God Almighty. A number of scriptures identify Him as such. In the Old Testament we read in Isaiah 9:6 we read, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Then in the New Testament we read in John 20:24-29, "Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." You will notice Jesus did not deny this proclamation of James nor correct him for making an error in judgement. In John 1:1-5, we read "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." It would appear to be a mystery as to who or what the "Word" is in the previous verses. But God clears up any question as to who or what the "Word" is in John 1:14. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Then finally in Philippians 2:10-11 we read, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The word Lord comes from the Greek word "Kurios" which is the same word that is used many times in the New Testament for God. Jesus announced the following to His disciples in John 14:7-9, "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" Either Jesus is God or He is one of the most deranged men that have ever lived. I choose to believe that He is God because of the unequivocal proof that the Bible presents.

If He is God, what impact should this truth have on my personal life? What should my response be to all that He has spoken? Should I respond to all His Word by faith and seek to live my life in accordance with it? Or should I respond as Pharaoh did in Exodus 5:2, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go."

As Jesus asked years ago, I too want to ask you today. Who do you say Jesus is? Your eternity hinges on your decision. To be neutral, or to make no decision, is a decision. Jesus said, "You are either for Me or against Me." You can not be neutral when it comes to Jesus Christ the Lord. Either He is God or He is not. Understand this dear ones. Your choosing to believe He is not God will not change the fact that He is. Many are under the delusion today that if they donít believe a particular fact, then it is not true to them. Try that with the law of gravity. Do you think that by saying you do not believe in the law of gravity, that would annul this law? Of course not! You would be a fool to think so. To disbelieve that Jesus is God, who made the law of gravity, is an act of even greater foolishness.

If you have not placed your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord to be your personal Lord and Savior, do so right now. The Bible tells us that if we agree with Godís assessment of ourselves (we are sinners which separates us from God), confess that we are sinners to God, repent of our sin (have a change of heart and mind toward sin), turn to Him in faith and ask Him to forgive you of your sin and come into your life as Lord and Savior, God will do as you ask.

Next week we will continue to look at who Jesus is. Until then, may the Lord richly bless you beloved.

If you have any questions, comments, or prayer requests you can contact me at: Calvary Chapel of Alpine, P.O. Box 1528, Alpine, Ca. 91903 or call 619-445-2589, or e-mail ccalpine@juno.com